The Chicago Bears are expanding their new stadium site search from Arlington Heights to the wider Chicagoland area, including Northwest Indiana, Chicago Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren said in an open letter Wednesday.

The new expanded search in beyond the team's current plans in Arlington Heights is due to what Warren calls a lack of cooperation from Illinois lawmakers to help secure "reasonable property tax certainty to secure financing," and help fund construction for the infrastructure surrounding a new stadium.

The team has said in recent months it was moving forward with plans to build on the old Arlington Park site in the northwest suburbs, but the club had also requested state help for infrastructure needs.

"We have been told directly by State leadership, our project will not be a priority in 2026, despite the benefits it will bring to Illinois," Warren's letter read in part. "Consequently, in addition to Arlington Park, we need to expand our search and critically evaluate opportunities throughout the wider Chicagoland region, including Northwest Indiana. This is not about leverage. We spent years trying to build a new home in Cook County. We invested significant time and resources evaluating multiple sites and rationally decided on Arlington Heights."

While Warren did not specify where in the northwest part of the Hoosier state the team is looking, ABC7 did speak to some Bears fans headed to the Chicago Bulls game Wednesday night, and they weren't too pleased.

"It sounds like he's kind of trying to put all his chips on the table, and maybe pressure the city into making a decision to keep the Chicago Bears here on the lakefront," Bears fan Adrian Diaz said. "I mean, if it works, you know, good. But, I wouldn't want to see the Bears go to another city. The Gary Bears? Yeah, no."

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"Arlington Heights, I think, was already a stretch. I want to see them stay here in Chicago," Bears fan John Stanford said. "We got to find the money and make it work."

Governor JB Pritzker's spokesperson shared the following statement:
"Suggesting the Bears would move to Indiana is a startling slap in the face to all the beloved and loyal fans who have been rallying around the team during this strong season. The Governor's a Bears fan who has always wanted them to stay in Chicago. He has also said that ultimately they are a private business that makes their own decisions, but the Governor has also been clear that the bottom line for any private business development should not come at the full expense of taxpayers."

The Village of Arlington Heights shared the following statement:
"The Village was made aware earlier today that the Chicago Bears are exploring the option of building their new stadium in northwest Indiana.
"Both the Village and the Chicago Bears remain confident that their Arlington Park property in Arlington Heights is the best option for their new stadium and entertainment district. However, we understand their need to explore any and all viable locations as part of their due diligence process. Due to restrictive legislation in Illinois, this exploration now includes moving to Indiana.
"The Village has been outspoken that a Megaproject bill is necessary to make a development project of this scale possible. A bill of this type would serve as a key economic development tool to attract large-scale investment not only in Arlington Heights, but in communities throughout the state.
"'We encourage our Illinois State legislators to move forward with the Megaproject bill,' said Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia. 'This legislation will help to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois, within the limits of Cook County, and ultimately - in Arlington Heights.'"

Cook County Board of Commissioners President Toni Preckwinkle shared the following statement:
"We're proud to have recently hosted a productive meeting between the State, City and County and the Bears. It was important for us to bring everyone to the table and have a conversation around making a serious commitment to keeping the Bears in Cook County and Illinois. We're shocked and disappointed that the Bears would discuss moving to Indiana at this time."

The Bears said in a letter to lawmakers in October that they would set aside $25 million for Chicago and the Chicago Park District amid their stadium move to Arlington Heights.

The funds could be used for maintenance of Soldier Field, support of park district programs, paying any shortfall of Illinois Sports Facilities Authority bond payments or anything else, the letter said.

SEE ALSO:Illinois, Arlington Heights leaders discuss funding construction of new Bears stadium

In October, State Rep. Kam Buckner called the offer not just "inadequate" but "disrespectful."

"It reflects a longer pattern of tone-deafness from this franchise when it comes to its relationship with the city that made it," he said. "We're talking about a franchise valued at nearly $10 billion offering scraps to Chicago."